Family behind ‘Britain’s biggest man cave’ gets approval for holiday let next door
Residents now fear the illegal leisure complex in Gloucestershire could also be rented out.
Watch: Locals fear 'Britain's biggest man cave' could become holiday let
Residents fear an illegal home extension described as 'Britain's biggest man cave' could be rented out to guests after a council approved a holiday let next door.
Graham Wildin, 70, who owns the 10,000 sq ft leisure complex in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, has continuously defied court orders to knock it down. The row has been ongoing since 2014, when he built the large extension at the back of his home without planning permission.
Wildin, of Cinderford, was even jailed for failing to comply with a court order to decommission the building and has lost a string of other court cases.
Now, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the temporary go-ahead has been given for an adjoining house, believed to be owned by his family, to become a holiday let despite neighbours' concerns about noise, parties and parking.
LDRS adds that the six-bedroom home backs onto the infamous complex, which contains a bowling alley and cinema, and locals have raised fears including cars blocking access and bin lorries, and residents "not being able to open their windows due to noisy revellers".
The plans for the six-double-bedroom house at 24 Meendhurst Road, Cinderford, were given temporary approval. They applied for retrospective permission to change the use of the house into a holiday let.
Despite the concerns, district council officers recommended approving the plans on a temporary level until January 2026. They said it would allow highway impacts and noise impacts of the use to be appropriately assessed.
The LDRS said Ben Pearce, for the applicants, said the holiday let has been used since July 2022 without road issues.
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'Loud parties and music'
Dozens of locals and Cinderford Town Council objected to the holiday let proposals for the house next door which they say is a "party house". According to the LDRS, they were put before the development management committee on Wednesday.
Paradise Trustees, who the LDRS say is understood to be related to Wildin, applied to Forest of Dean District Council to change the use of the building to a holiday let.
The property has created problems for people living on Meendhurst Road and "creates unwelcome additional noise issues," they said. Residents added a "hot tub is very echoey" and "all external socialising takes place in the front garden or primarily on the raised deck area to the front of the property".
Objectors said the home "attracts large groups" for "loud parties and loud music", which means they have to keep their windows shut, the LDRS reported. Locals told the council when objecting to the plans that one guest kept neighbours awake during one party by playing a saxophone.
They argued the property was too big for its proposed use, would devalue their homes and already affects their "quality of life". One local who spoke on behalf of 25 residents said there had been noise complaints and stress caused by parking issues and bin problems.
How big can a garden shed be in the UK without planning permission?
Here’s a summary of the rules you must follow to avoid having to apply for planning permission for your shed which are applicable in England and Wales, according to checkatrade.
The shed must occupy less than 50% of the total area occupied by your property.
Your shed isn’t located in front of your house.
The total floor area of the shed doesn’t exceed 15m2.
The height of the eaves of the shed doesn’t exceed 2.5 metres and the building is single storey.
If located within 2 metres of the property’s boundary the total height of the building must not exceed 2.5 metres.
It has no veranda or balcony attached to it, and any decking can be no higher than 30cm from ground level.
The shed is for domestic use only and will not contain any sleeping accommodation.
You might need to apply for planning permission or seek professional advice before building your shed if:
You plan on using your shed as accommodation or self-contained unit.
You live in a listed building.
Your property is located in a World Heritage site, Conservation Area, National Park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or the Broads.
The shed will be located in woodland not attached to your property.
You live in Scotland or Northern Ireland (where rules differ).
